House For Sale £1,250,000
Greens Farm Lane, Billericay

SELLERS INSIGHT 'Before we bought the house we lived in Bentley, near Ongar. I was then in Brentwood high street one day and saw Hurlocks Farm advertised in an estate agents window. I got the details from the agent, went home and said to my wife, we are moving, we are going to live hear. We saw the property and its fantastic grounds and fell in love with it straight away. Fortunately, we managed to agree a deal with the vendor and moved in.

Hurlocks Farm is simply a one off with no other equivalent properties in the area, there was nothing to compare it against. The main farmhouse itself dates back to 1550 and has three inglenook fireplaces, all working, with timber beams and exposed timber studworks to most rooms. All the rooms in the property are large and so, unusually for a property of this age you do not feel constricted by a feeling of a lack of space. The property also sits on grounds of one acre, most of which form the rear garden. The rear garden is fully enclosed by conifer trees and has a very large pond within the grounds. The setting is just superb with no surrounding noise. When sitting in the garden, you really do feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, a great feeling if you have been working in London all week. The property is also noted as a Heritage site with references made to it on local information signs.

The main farmhouse dates back to 1550, a large two storey extension was added to the rear of the property in 1980, it was sympathetically done, creating replica features throughout. We have altered the internal layout slightly, re-fitted new kitchens and bathrooms and replaced all radiators with new cast iron heritage style radiators which perfectly compliment the look and feel of the property.

We altered the layout of the central area to create a fifth bedroom. We have done it sympathetically with large exposed timber beams and posts to maintain the look and feel of the house. We have also provided quality tiled and timber flooring to all ground floor rooms and the main bedroom and bathrooms. Along with installation of the heritage style radiators and Aga, they just fit the property perfectly and add an attractive focal point within all rooms.

Our favourite room in the house is the dining room. It is a fantastic room full of character with a fulling working open inglenook fire place an timber beamed ceiling with exposed studwork and brickwork to the walls. We installed a large heritage style table with eight chairs, but can fit twelve. Sunday dinner with the family, dinner parties and Christmas day dinner are all fantastically hosted in this beautiful room. It is just perfect!

We have looked at a few properties recently, trying to find something similar, but on a smaller scale. It is clear the the size of all the rooms within the house is rare and very special and its unique setting in a tranquil environment so close to the fantastic ameneties that Billericay has to offer, whilst having quick and easy access to London. It is very, very difficult to match, as we are now finding out.

We only really know our direct neighbour in the Old Barn, which used to be the original pig stables for the farmhouse. Our relationship is good, we help each other out when the need arises. Everyone is very friendly, mix well and are all generally seem content, as they should be, living in such a great town. There is never any feeling of stress when socialising in the high street. It is always great fun with a great deal of choice of pubs, restaurants and bars.

All of the schools in the area, infants, junior and senior are of a high standard and provide a great start for the Children, The tennis club has with ten courts of differing surfaces with a lovely clubhouse providing a great facility for children of all ages. The facility is highly regarded as one of the best in Essex and hosts the Essex Open tournament yearly. The football ground is also a great facility, with a lovely club house and attracts a good crowd on a Saturday afternoon providing a good environment for socialising for all ages, both young and old. There are also three very good golf courses in the area which cater enthusiastically for new young people wanting to take up the game. Lake Meadows is also a great amenity with a huge lake, café bar, children's play area and large green spaces to relax and picnic in.

Billericay is a fantastic place to live, it is semi rural with a lovely high street with a lot of independent local shops, pubs, restaurants, cafe bars and recreational facilities. Lake Meadows is a ten minute walk from the high street, as are the football ground, tennis club and cricket club, all of which are congregated together in an open countryside setting. The train station, with fast access to London Liverpool Street station is a five minute walk from the high street. Hurlocks Farm is a ten minute walk from the high street and a twelve minute walk from the station, so we have access to all the great facilities that Billericay has to offer, but, when we sit in our beautiful back garden, we could be in the middle of nowhere, pure bliss.The train station is a twelve minute walk from the house with a very frequent service to London Liverpool Street Station, with the journey taking 35 minutes.

We are moving on because our three boys have found properties of there own and moving on. The house needs a vibrant young family that can fill it with life, love and laughter again.

We would very much like a new couple with a young family to love and enjoy the house as much as we have done these last 22 years. Time to turn the page!
 

THE PROPERTY The property is approached via a side driveway on either side of the property, leading on to a double garage. On the ground floor, the property comprises a spacious entrance hall, a large living room with an open fireplace and French doors leading out to the garden, a separate dining room, a snug and a fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room that includes a range of high-quality integrated appliances as well as a Aga. There is also a study, and a utility room.

The first floor boasts three well-proportioned bedrooms, including a principle bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. two additional bedrooms are on the second floor, which are serviced by the family bathroom.

Externally, the property benefits from stunning gardens with mature trees and shrubs, a lake, an outbuilding currently being used as a games room. An area with hot tub offering a perfect place to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Additionally, there is a one bedroom annexe that is spacious with a living room, kitchen and bathroom.

Hurlocks Farm is located in a peaceful yet convenient location, just a few minutes' drive from Billericay town centre, offering a range of local restaurants, shops, and amenities. Excellent transport links are also available via the nearby A12, providing access to London and surrounding areas.